Year-In-Review

November

Two new Canada Research Chairs were awarded to Memorial University at an announcement made by Prime Minister Paul Martin Nov. 12. Dr. Duncan McIlroy was awarded the Canada Research Chair in Petroleum Geoscience/Geotechnology and Dr. Qiying Chen was awarded the Canada Research Chair in Photonics. Dr. McIlroy's research will lead to a more complete understanding of the role of organisms in controlling the porosity and permeability of sandstone reservoir intervals. He will also explore the development of fuel and energy technology. Dr. McIlroy comes to Canada from the United Kingdom. Dr. Chen's research involves the development of novel applications in information technology and biophotonics and the development of ultrafast nano-photonics with ultrafast technology and nanotechnology.

After five years of hard work, the collaborative project between Memorial University 's School of Nursing and the Faculty of Nursing at the University of Indonesia in Jakarta is over. The dean of the Faculty of Nursing at the University of Indonesia, Dr. Elly Nurachmah, the project director in Indonesia, Dr. Junaiti Sahar and Yuni Nursasi, a member of the team, were at Memorial Nov. 21-28 to finalize plans for the final symposium in Indonesia in January, a policy paper for the Indonesian government and a wrap-up presentation. The project on nursing, women's health and community outreach in Indonesia began in 1998, and over the years four junior faculty members from Indonesia have come to Memorial to earn their master's in nursing.

Dr. Axel Meisen was in Cork, Ireland, in November to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with University College Cork (UCC). UCC President Gerard Wrixon, who welcomed the link, expected the visit to result in the identification of further areas for co-operation, including the disciplines of Information Communication Technology (ICT) and engineering. During the visit, Dr. Meisen also announced the establishment of the Coracle Irish-Newfoundland Fellowships and Roundtables. The Coracle initiative enables eminent practitioners and academics from Ireland to work with their counterparts in Newfoundland and Labrador.